Where do the other people in the gym get their routines ?

[FAQ]

-Arnolds thick book. I respect bodybuilding/bodybuilders and the hard work it requires, however its popularity has had a negative affect on strength training.
-Many general fitness type folk don't know the difference between strength training and mass training.
-Misinformation in mainstream media: magazines, books, television commercials.
-Exercise machine industry$$$
-Horrible personal trainers at commercial gyms.
-Misinformed elementary and secondary school gym teachers
-Misinformed high school sports coaches.

[JP]

-Arnolds thick book. I respect bodybuilding/bodybuilders and the hard work it requires, however its popularity has had a negative affect on strength training.

though, in defense of arnolds legacy, people seem to be copyinig the 21s for bicep curls, arnold presses and the like - but conveniently do NOT copy the heavy and/or high rep brutal squat workouts.

...i wonder why...

[FAQ]

-Arnolds thick book. I respect bodybuilding/bodybuilders and the hard work it requires, however its popularity has had a negative affect on strength training.

though, in defense of arnolds legacy, people seem to be copyinig the 21s for bicep curls, arnold presses and the like - but conveniently do NOT copy the heavy and/or high rep brutal squat workouts.

...i wonder why...

I wrote my previous post quickly before I went to bed so let me clarify a few things. There are plenty of compound exercises in Arnolds book. Many people seem to mostly do the isolation exercises in it for some reason.

JP, in response to your comment about squatting, which you seem to think is the end all be all of barbell exercises. I know a woman who is a competitive rugby player. She told me she prefers leg pressing over squatting because she can lift more weight leg pressing. At first I thought she was joking. That sounded unusual coming from a competitive rugby player. I don't want to use the word lazy, however my vocabulary is limited.

Also, I learned the "never squat below 90 degree rule" from gym teachers.

[JP]

I know a woman who is a competitive rugby player. She told me she prefers leg pressing over squatting because she can lift more weight leg pressing.

yeah of course she is lifting more weight, as in a bigger load, but she is doing less of the work.

people come up with all kinds of reasons to avoid the evil squats

I guess sometimes the rugby players just need to give their lower back a rest and use leg press instead. I have no idea - trained with plenty of rugby players, mostly men but some women too and squats seemed staple.

but i bet it differs from team to another too.

Also, I learned the "never squat below 90 degree rule" from gym teachers.

yeah that seems to never go away...

[FAQ]

I learned that that rule is not true from internet forums.

[JP]

trouble is, who can you trust

i think both.

Internet training focused forums are full of healthy active individuals who want most from their training.

Gym instructors deal with all kinds of people, often with health problems and injuries, people who are not all that keen but have to do something.

So i think one size doesnt fit all - it doesnt really matter if recreational gym user squats quarter of the way down, it matters that they can come to the gym and do stuff safely.

But it is a bit disheartening to hear gym instructors say the same advice for a healthy individual who is serious about their sport.

[birmingham gym bunny]

What works well for one person may not work as well for another, it depends what you're trying to achieve from your work out I guess. But I have seen people doing some interesting routines in my time, that's for sure! But then again when i started out, I didn't really know what I was doing either....

Rx